can not move icons on desktop

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".

Anyone?
(SIGH)

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

dadiOH · External Since: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 11

thanatoid wrote:
> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
> C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
> desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
> auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".
>
> Anyone?
> (SIGH)

Can you move them in/out of the C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder?

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

philo1 · External Since: May 08, 2004 Posts: 59

thanatoid wrote:
> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
> C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
> desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
> auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".
>
> Anyone?
> (SIGH)
>

Sometimes you have to toggle the settings.

Try setting the icons to "auto arrange"

then reboot

now try turning "auto arrange" off

(and possibly reboot again)

Just one other thought:

Did you install Windows on your hard drive
or bake it to a clay tablet?
If you baked your Windows install to a clay tablet...
you cannot change your settings unless you break your entire system...

but those clay tablet computers aren't used much any more

BTW:

I pretty much gave up on Windows altogether and have moved on to Linux.

Buffalo · External Since: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 42

thanatoid wrote:
> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
> C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
> desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
> auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".
>
> Anyone?
> (SIGH)

Have you tried 'unlocking auto-arrange' ? Just kidding. Smile

Try toggling like Phil suggested and perhaps even deleting the
shelliconcache and rebooting.
Try changing the icon 'size' several times.
Maybe format again and put on another fresh image. Who knows?
Lots of luck.
Buffalo
PS: Do the icons move temporarily when you try to drag them?
Could you drag them into another desktop folder? (Just to see if they will)
What rt clk options do you have?

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"dadiOH" <dadiOH.RemoveThis@invalid.com> wrote in
news:OYKuZy4rJHA.1492@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> thanatoid wrote:
>> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
>> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
>> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
>> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
>> mouse button".
>>
>> Anyone?
>> (SIGH)
>
>
> Can you move them in/out of the C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder?

Thanks for the reply.
Not sure what you mean by "move" - I use Total Commander, a
Norton Commander clone. I can remove or add *.lnk files (IE
desktop icons freely. Is that what you meant?

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Buffalo" <Eric.DeleteThis@nada.com.invalid> wrote in
news:gqlbah$i6q$1@news.motzarella.org:

> Have you tried 'unlocking auto-arrange' ? Just kidding.

Appreciated Smile

>

Try toggling like Phil suggested and perhaps even
> deleting the shelliconcache and rebooting.

Will do.

> Try changing the icon 'size' several times.

Tried itr once, nothing. Will try again.

> Maybe format again and put on another fresh image.
AARGHG.

> Who knows?

EXACTLY. I'd llike to get Gates in a room with a 2x4 in my hand
and ask him to fix it.

> PS: Do the icons move temporarily when you try to drag
> them?

FROZEN.

> Could you drag them into another desktop folder?
> (Just to see if they will)

I don't drag icons except on the desktop, and not sure what that
means.

>What rt-clk options do you have?
Standard 98.

Apparently there is a"lock desktop" or something option in XP,
but I run 98SELite.

Thanks for the help.

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

dadiOH · External Since: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 11

thanatoid wrote:
> "dadiOH" <dadiOH DeleteThis @invalid.com> wrote in
> news:OYKuZy4rJHA.1492@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:
>
>> thanatoid wrote:
>>> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
>>> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
>>> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
>>> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
>>> mouse button".
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>> (SIGH)
>>
>>
>> Can you move them in/out of the C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder?
>
> Thanks for the reply.
> Not sure what you mean by "move" - I use Total Commander, a
> Norton Commander clone. I can remove or add *.lnk files (IE
> desktop icons freely. Is that what you meant?

No, I meant can you move them from C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder to another
folder. Apparantly you'd be able to do so since you can add/remove icons
from the desktop (which is nothing more than a graphic representation of
C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder).

I thought that perhaps you'd be able to move them after moving to another
folder then moving them back to C:\WINDOWS\Desktop folder. A long shot...

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Franc Zabkar · External Since: Sep 03, 2005 Posts: 991

On 28 Mar 2009 08:25:41 GMT, thanatoid <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> put
finger to keyboard and composed:

>This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
>C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
>desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
>auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".
>
>Anyone?
>(SIGH)

Can you drag a box around some blank area of your desktop?

Can you create a new shortcut on your desktop? If so, can this new
shortcut be dragged?

Does this discussion sound like it might refer to your problem:
http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-95/drag-and-drop-problems/8123.html

The suggested solution was to install Microsoft's "dcom98 1.3" update:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=08b1ac1b-7a11...e8-b59d

However, "if replacing the OLE dll files using dcom95/98 does not
work, try replacing the user32.dll, since it contains the function
call for icon dragging."

Of course none of the above explains why reinstalling a working image
results in a broken system. <shrug>

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

Franc Zabkar <fzabkar.TakeThisOut@iinternode.on.net> wrote in
news:h7lts49jcdc0ckrooluaf345tobpl67rc0@4ax.com:

<SNIP>

> Of course none of the above explains why reinstalling a
> working image results in a broken system. <shrug>

I DID install a few programs immediately after - but I had them
installed MANY times before and they NEVER caused ANY let alone
THIS problem, in fact I have never even HEARD of it until this
happened. It is presumably an idiotic conflict between some DLL
which is *.*.00001 flavor different from the one I had before
because of the order in which I installed the 4 or 5 programs
THIS time. Stupid evil MS.

BTW, would you have ANY idea why a small program I've been using
for years now only responds to the "open" menu command ONLY the
first time it is run? I do stuff, then I try "open" again,
NOTHING. I have to close the program and start again and repeat
as necessary. It's not a BIG deal, the program loads in 2
seconds, but it IS another mystery. Has been like this for about
6 months, NO idea what caused it, needless to say. Thought
restoring the image would fix it but it didn't.

I'll check out your links, see if they help.

{In the meantime I ran System File Checker (of whose existence I
was NOT aware of) and changed some files to the seemingly more
appropriate versions in the hope it might help, since nothing
else that anyone suggested did. Windows wouldn't boot (of
course), but I replaced explorer.exe with the backed up SFC one
and it's fine now. SIGH.}

I am slowly preparing myself to wipe the C partition and install
Win98SELite and all the programs from scratch, once and for all,
in order they were released (to avoid the stupid DLL conflicts
hopefully) and having a normal system again. Double SIGH.

Thanks for all your help.

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

Franc Zabkar <fzabkar DeleteThis @iinternode.on.net> wrote in
news:h7lts49jcdc0ckrooluaf345tobpl67rc0@4ax.com:

Sorry Franc, I realized I didhn;t answer your questions...

> Can you drag a box around some blank area of your desktop?

I can *DRAW* one, but nothing moves, the box disappears and a
new one is formed where i tried dragging the several icons.

> Can you create a new shortcut on your desktop? If so, can
> this new shortcut be dragged?

Yes, but it is immobile. Fortunately, IconSaver still works (WHY
is beyond me), so if this can't be resolved, I am basically OK,
just have to add a couple of things to the start menu instead,
or to the RUN command. Still, I hate these mysteries.

Regards
t.

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

dadiOH · External Since: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 11

thanatoid wrote:

> I DID install a few programs immediately after - but I had them
> installed MANY times before and they NEVER caused ANY let alone
> THIS problem, in fact I have never even HEARD of it until this
> happened. It is presumably an idiotic conflict between some DLL
> which is *.*.00001 flavor different from the one I had before
> because of the order in which I installed the 4 or 5 programs
> THIS time. Stupid evil MS.

Let me see...

a) You use a 3rd party modified MS OS

b) You installed some program that - apparently - replaced a library
file with an older one.

So why do you blame your woes on MS?

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Ben Myers1 · External Since: Jan 16, 2004 Posts: 17

"thanatoid" <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message news:Xns9BDC18D43BB6Dthanexit@209.197.15.184...
> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly good
> C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons on the
> desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers except "unlock
> auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle mouse button".

Try reinstalling or repairing Internet Explorer.

Ben

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers RemoveThis @mindREMOVEspring.com> wrote in
news:#kxq$5HsJHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> "thanatoid" <waiting RemoveThis @the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Xns9BDC18D43BB6Dthanexit@209.197.15.184...
>> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
>> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
>> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
>> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
>> mouse button".
>
> Try reinstalling or repairing Internet Explorer.
>
> Ben

Thanks, I never use it except for chm help files, but what the
hell, I've tried EVERYTHING else (see other post soon to come,
two more things to try).

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers.TakeThisOut@mindREMOVEspring.com> wrote in
news:#kxq$5HsJHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> "thanatoid" <waiting.TakeThisOut@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Xns9BDC18D43BB6Dthanexit@209.197.15.184...
>> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
>> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
>> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
>> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
>> mouse button".
>
> Try reinstalling or repairing Internet Explorer.

Thanks, I never use it except for chm help files, but what the
hell, I've tried EVERYTHING else (see update post).
I'll do that next if I can figure out a way to do it without
having to reinstall ALL of Win98 and/or screwing up everything
even more. I /have/ seen that suggestion when I Googled but it
didn't make much sense... Still, why should it? NONE of this
does.

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

Hi Franc.

I really appreciate your help, I don't know HOW you found all
those links - I guess I shouldn't have given up after 3
Google pages of the same advice...

Anyway, FYI, here's a list of what I did. Nothing worked.
But nothing got worse, either. I don't care anymore.
Considering it's Windows I'm probably lucky.

++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++

re-installed from original 98SE...

ole32.dll
olethk32.dll
compobj.dll

>>NOTHING
================

I have the same problem, but when I try to (re)install IE5 or
o2k, it complains "Error 1904: Cannot register
c:\windows\system\javale.dll HRESULT -2147024865 Contact your
support personel" whatever that means. Also complained about
c:\windows\system\dispex.dll so I copied it from cabs to no
avail.

>>NOTHING
==================

If replacing the OLE dll files using dcom95/98 does not work,
try replacing the user32.dll, since it contains the function
call for icon dragging. If this STILL doesn't work, you are
probably missing a registry key or two. Cut and paste this to
a file called drag.reg and merge (double-click) it into the
registry: (do not include the --header-- and --footer--.

--START FILE---
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{0000010e-0000-0000-C000-00000000
0046}] @="IDataObject"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{0000010e-0000-0000-C000-00000000
0046}\NumMethods] @="12"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{0000010e-0000-0000-C000-00000000
0046}\ProxyStubClsid32]
@="{00000320-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" ---END FILE---

>>NOTHING, have them
==================

DCOM 95 Fixed this exact problem on a machine we just spent
the last 4 hours trying to fix.

It appeared to be a missing/corrupt DLL in the OLE side of
things. It affected email (opening attachements), windows
paste operations (no clipboard it appears) office etc...

>>only installs on 95
==================

I took the advise of No#13 above (Chris Radcliffe) and
installed dcom98 1.3 from microsoft's website and it fixed
all my problems. 1. Drag and drop desktop icons crashed my
win98 pc. 2. Left click and hold, then move mouse, anywhere
in internet explorer caused system wide crash. Installed
dcom98 all works perfectly! Thanks Chris!! I was ready to
reinstall!!

>>NOTHING
==================

Try CopyGenie, see if it can overwrite the DragDropHandler
settings: http://www.pythoness.com/download.asp

>>NOTHING
==================

However, "if replacing the OLE dll files using dcom95/98 does
not work, try replacing the user32.dll, since it contains the
function call for icon dragging."

>>NOTHING
==================

Tried PC Mag's "IconLock".

>>NOTHING

++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++

Sigh.

If I HAVE to get an icon on the desktop, I can cheat using
reference points from Icon Saver (exact coordinates. New
icons appear OK, lined up, they just can't be moved - but
almost certainly COULD be if I changed the IconSaver
coordinates in the registry -0 just hasn't been necessary
yet.

I MAY reinstall Win98SELite OVER the existing installation,
having first copied the entire Win directory to a another
partition for backup.

There does not seem to be anything I can do except format c
and reinstall EVERYTHING the nightmare of doing which st this
points outweighs the advantages.

Thanks again for all your help.

--
"Who knows what the OP is talking about?"
(about thanatoid)

rebel · External Since: Apr 18, 2007 Posts: 10

On 29 Mar 2009 20:42:12 GMT, thanatoid <waiting.TakeThisOut@the.exit.invalid> wrote:

>Hi Franc.
(snip)

>Sigh.
>
>If I HAVE to get an icon on the desktop, I can cheat using
>reference points from Icon Saver (exact coordinates. New
>icons appear OK, lined up, they just can't be moved - but
>almost certainly COULD be if I changed the IconSaver
>coordinates in the registry -0 just hasn't been necessary
>yet.

This may sound unrelated/bizarre/unhelpful but ...

I have the opposite problem in my 98SE - every so often the icons all rearrange
themselves without any apparent cause/trigger. I sort of rely on knowledge of
which ones are where, just like we do with keys on a keyboard - imagine if THEY
got scrambled occasionally!

My desktop has room for 14*10 of them and weird as it may sound to some I have
around 120 icons present, so when this scrambling occurs I get seriously
disadvantaged. One thing that DOES scramble them religiously is
starting_in_safe_mode.

Have you tried in safe mode?

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

rebel <me RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote in
news:1u50t4ph3i5dfk2amt7lla2s7mlrnrj0q3@4ax.com:

> I have the opposite problem in my 98SE - every so often the
> icons all rearrange themselves without any apparent
> cause/trigger. I sort of rely on knowledge of which ones
> are where, just like we do with keys on a keyboard -
> imagine if THEY got scrambled occasionally!
>
> My desktop has room for 14*10 of them and weird as it may
> sound to some I have around 120 icons present, so when this
> scrambling occurs I get seriously disadvantaged. One thing
> that DOES scramble them religiously is
> starting_in_safe_mode.
>
> Have you tried in safe mode?

I DREAD the safe mode since I ALWAYS have to reset a bunch of
things after, mostly to do with icons, color depth, screen
resolution etc. It is a real drag. I will wait until the
alternative is reformatting C and starting from scratch, but
thanks for the suggestion.

AFA your problem, IconSaver by Mario Knok is your best solution.
Ver 1 was free and I can post it in some binary group for you.
The current ver is like ten bucks but has stuff that is really
not needed. NO ONE leaves well enough alone. Still, while there
are other programs but this one is the best.

Thanks again.

thanatoid · External Since: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 355

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers.TakeThisOut@mindREMOVEspring.com> wrote in
news:#kxq$5HsJHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> "thanatoid" <waiting.TakeThisOut@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Xns9BDC18D43BB6Dthanexit@209.197.15.184...
>> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
>> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
>> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
>> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
>> mouse button".
>
> Try reinstalling or repairing Internet Explorer.
>
> Ben

Did it. Nothing. I am out of options =- but I am getting used to
having the icons locked. I almost never drag and drop - even
though it works EXCEPT with icons (as is Ctl-C, Ctl-V thank
fubar), and that last image I restored had only one or two less
icons than I want now. And there is always the start menu.

Thanks for your help.

MEB · External Since: Jan 16, 2009 Posts: 42

I've relied upon Tidy95 since it was first published in PCMAG, also free
when originally created and updated.

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

"thanatoid" <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9BDDDC46F95ACthanexit@85.214.105.209...
> rebel <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in
> news:1u50t4ph3i5dfk2amt7lla2s7mlrnrj0q3@4ax.com:
>
>
> > I have the opposite problem in my 98SE - every so often the
> > icons all rearrange themselves without any apparent
> > cause/trigger. I sort of rely on knowledge of which ones
> > are where, just like we do with keys on a keyboard -
> > imagine if THEY got scrambled occasionally!
> >
> > My desktop has room for 14*10 of them and weird as it may
> > sound to some I have around 120 icons present, so when this
> > scrambling occurs I get seriously disadvantaged. One thing
> > that DOES scramble them religiously is
> > starting_in_safe_mode.
> >
> > Have you tried in safe mode?
>
> I DREAD the safe mode since I ALWAYS have to reset a bunch of
> things after, mostly to do with icons, color depth, screen
> resolution etc. It is a real drag. I will wait until the
> alternative is reformatting C and starting from scratch, but
> thanks for the suggestion.
>
> AFA your problem, IconSaver by Mario Knok is your best solution.
> Ver 1 was free and I can post it in some binary group for you.
> The current ver is like ten bucks but has stuff that is really
> not needed. NO ONE leaves well enough alone. Still, while there
> are other programs but this one is the best.
>
> Thanks again.

MEB · External Since: Jan 16, 2009 Posts: 42

"thanatoid" <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9BDDDD0F3916Ethanexit@85.214.105.209...
> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers.RemoveThis@mindREMOVEspring.com> wrote in
> news:#kxq$5HsJHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
>
> > "thanatoid" <waiting.RemoveThis@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
> > news:Xns9BDC18D43BB6Dthanexit@209.197.15.184...
> >> This is really getting insane. I just restored a perfectly
> >> good C:\ image which worked 100%, and I can NOT move icons
> >> on the desktop. I've Googled, and no one has ANY answers
> >> except "unlock auto-arrange" (duh) or "clean you middle
> >> mouse button".
> >
> > Try reinstalling or repairing Internet Explorer.
> >
> > Ben
>
> Did it. Nothing. I am out of options =- but I am getting used to
> having the icons locked. I almost never drag and drop - even
> though it works EXCEPT with icons (as is Ctl-C, Ctl-V thank
> fubar), and that last image I restored had only one or two less
> icons than I want now. And there is always the start menu.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>

Did you check your Active Desktop settings?

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______